Crystal Palace, the reigning FA Cup champions, will begin their defense of the trophy with an away match against sixth-tier Macclesfield in the third round of this season’s competition. Palace secured their first major title in club history last season, defeating Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley thanks to a first-half goal from Eberechi Eze.
The draw, announced recently, saw Palace avoid the potential challenge of an all-Premier League fixture this round. Other top-flight matchups include Tottenham Hotspur hosting Aston Villa, and Manchester United facing Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford. Everton will welcome Sunderland to the newly inaugurated Hill Dickinson Stadium, marking the first FA Cup match held there. Meanwhile, Newcastle United, managed by Eddie Howe, will host Bournemouth, Howe’s former club.
For Ruben Amorim’s side, the competition represents a prime opportunity for silverware this season, as they are not participating in European tournaments and were eliminated from the Carabao Cup in the second round by Grimsby Town in August.
Additional notable ties include Arsenal, featuring Eze now donning their colors, traveling to Championship side Portsmouth. Premier League champions Liverpool are set to host Barnsley from League One, while Chelsea visits Championship outfit Charlton Athletic. Manchester City, chasing a domestic treble, welcome Exeter City to the Etihad Stadium. In a lower-tier showdown, sixth-tier Weston-super-Mare will travel to face Grimsby Town.
Significantly, the format for this year’s FA Cup has changed. Unlike previous seasons, there will be no replays for drawn matches at this stage. Each game tied after 90 minutes will proceed directly to extra time and, if necessary, be decided by a penalty shootout, a move aimed at reducing fixture congestion.